This bunker is so secret they need to advertise the directions to it on the canal! (Author’s Collection).
Greetings and salutations from the Cheshire/Shropshire border of the UK, and an early morning 5 mile stroll beside the Shropshire Union Canal on Tuesday 28th June 2022. As you will see and hopefully enjoy after the following paragraph, this lengthy meander along a winding canal in central England will take us from Baddington to Audlem in the direction of Market Drayton and Norbury Junction, via nine bridges, a flock of geese, a herd of cows, a secret nuclear fallout bunker and a well deserved carvery afterwards.
I was celebrating! I’d found a secret nuclear fallout bunker! Don’t believe me?
Read on to find out.
By way of an introduction, this is somewhat of a bumper crop of over 40 images taken today as despite slightly misjudging the temperature and a particularly cold and blustery “Summer’s Day”, I rather enjoyed this stroll as it really showcased an open countryside surrounding the canal rather than the majority of my recent explorative walks that have been tree lined and constricted. Here you will see a snapshot of a typically open and green English countryside as well as some hopefully soothing and pleasing images from the canal itself.
Disclaimer
As per my previous articles on the canals in the picturesque UK county in which I live, I don’t claim to have any experience of either a canal boat lifestyle or the inner workings and trials and tribulations of life on a houseboat/canal boat or narrow boat (whichever you prefer). I just find the peace, tranquillity and the quirky nature of an almost bygone way of existence and determination to live your life in this way, and in a floating house too, endlessly fascinating. I also bask and prosper in the sunshine, love the sights and sounds of canal life juxtaposed with the earthy nature and countryside that surrounds it, and simply discovering a new piece of the canal waterways puzzle never fails to raise a smile on my face. Guaranteed (Guaranteed) to receive oodles of smiles and “Hello’s” and “Good Afternoon’s” from the human beings you meet and watching dogs leap into a canal in search of a well thrown stick or ball can’t fail to amuse the child in all of us.
So much for all that.
I sincerely hope you enjoy the lengthy virtual pictorial stroll of a rather lovely morning that follows:
“Baddington Road Bridge” or Bridge 88 is our starting point and the first of many lengthy stretches of the canal ahead (Author’s Collection).
The first of two Locks at “Hack Green Locks” (Author’s Collection).
Bridge 86 at Hack Green ahead with the final Lock directly behind it (Author’s Collection).
A long view from atop Bridge 86 at Hack Green Locks and another “Perfect Timing” moment (Author’s Collection).
View from Hack Green Lock toward Bridge 85 and a not so secret nuclear fallout bunker! (Author’s Collection).
(Author’s Collection).
Bridge 85 or “Burrows Bridge” and the not so secretive Hack Green Nuclear Bunker! (Author’s Collection).
View from atop Bridge 85 and another long stretch of the canal ahead (Author’s Collection).
“Perfect Timing” Part 1 (Author’s Collection).
“Perfect Timing” Part 2 and it was worth waiting for (Author’s Collection).
View from Bridge 84 or “Mickley Bridge” (Author’s Collection).
Another “Perfect Timing” moment on the longest unbroken stretch of the canal (Author’s Collection).
See above comments! (Author’s Collection).
2 miles completed of the overall 5 (Author’s Collection).
Another “Perfect Timing” moment and the epitome of this stretch of the canal and the wide open countryside that surrounds it (Author’s Collection).
Bridge 83 near “Coole Pilate” (Author’s Collection).
A favourite image from my morning stroll captured beneath Bridge 83. A couple of sleepy fishermen, the disused Rail Bridge ahead and Bridge 82 way into the distance (Author’s Collection).
View from atop Bridge 83 toward the disused Rail Bridge and Bridge 82 at “Coole Lane” way into the distance (Author’s Collection).
Disused “Rail Bridge” or Bridge 82a (Author’s Collection).
On the way to Bridge 82 at Coole Lane (Author’s Collection).
Here comes Gertie! (Author’s Collection).
“Gertie” as viewed from atop Bridge 82 (Author’s Collection).
Another pleasing image captured today (Author’s Collection).
“Bennetts Bridge” or Bridge 80 (Author’s Collection).
Another long stretch of the canal toward “Overwater” Marina (Author’s Collection).
“Overwater” Marina (Author’s Collection).
And it was at this moment that Stephen fell in love (Author’s Collection).
Quite the location eh? And a simple stroll from there to the foot of Bridge 79 and the first 3 of 15 Locks in Audlem (Author’s Collection).
Bridge 79 or “Moss Hall”, Lock number 15 and quite the welcome to Audlem (Author’s Collection).
Another favourite image captured this morning (Author’s Collection).
View from the beginning of Audlem Locks (Author’s Collection).
(Author’s Collection).
The opening of Lock 14 and the pleasing sound of rushing water (Author’s Collection).
I just love these throwbacks to a more simpler time (Author’s Collection).
Lock 14 at Audlem Locks (Author’s Collection).
View from between the Locks and our final stretch in beautiful Audlem (also known as Audlem Mill) (Author’s Collection).
Lock 13 at Audlem and another favourite image captured as a long morning tiptoed past Noon and into the afternoon (Author’s Collection).
Another view of Lock 13 and further into beautiful Audlem (Author’s Collection).
“The Shroppie Fly” restaurant on the left and further onto the red brick building of Audlem Mill (Author’s Collection).
Beautiful Audlem Mill (Author’s Collection).
Bridge 78 or “Audlem Town Bridge” with Lock 12 through the bridge and the remaining 11 stretching out across a further 3 bridges on this picturesque part of the Shropshire Union Canal (Author’s Collection).
Oh come on! I was celebrating! It’s not every day you find a “secret” nuclear fallout bunker! (Author’s Collection).
Thanks for reading. I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed this pictorial stroll on an overcast, blustery and colder than it looks English Summer’s morning, and if so, can I perhaps point you to the recently published and complimentary editions in this series of walks along the Shropshire Union Canal linked below?
